Castleford coach not worried by tough start to season

A tough start to the season with games against likely rivals St Helens and Hull FC in the first three fixtures will not faze Castleford Tigers, according to assistant coach Danny Orr.

The Tigers made a flying start to the 2017 campaign and are aiming to do the same next year with Orr not concerned about who they have to play.

He told the Express: “I haven’t had a good look at the fixture list.

“I’m not really interested to be honest, it’s more about us and getting our pre-season right and being ready for the first game.

“I know we’ve got a couple of pre-season games, starting on Boxing Day, to come and will use these as preparation to make sure we are ready.

“You have to play everybody home and away at some point so it doesn’t matter really when you play them. I’ve not really had a good look at it.”

Castleford start against a St Helens side keen for revenge after being edged out in extra-time in the Super League play-off semi-final.

The game is also set to take place on a ground where the Tigers have never won a competitive game, although they did win a pre-season warm-up match at the Totally Wicked Stadium this year.

“It is a tough start at St Helens, but you’ve got to play them at some point and they will probably be saying the same thing, it’s a tough start for them against Cas,” said Orr.

“We will be ready for that come round one. We’ll have had all our players back in training for quite a few weeks by then so we will go over there and have a crack at them.

“I think Powelly’s putting a good squad together for next year. Obviously we already had a good squad, but at the end of every year some leave and some come in – and the new boys are settling in well.”